People to Know Flashcards
was a strict follower of the Mosaic Law, which he had been formally taught in Jerusalem. was also a harsh persecutor of the earliest Christians. He had even consented
to the death of St. Stephen, the first martyr for Christ. was on his way to Damascus to harass and
arrest more Christians when the Risen Jesus appeared to him
Paul (Saul)
Roman emperor who started a fire that destroyed much of Rome and blamed it on Christians which began the persecution of Christians in Rome
Nero
lived in Carthage, Africa; was married (2 books addressed his wife); Early Christian writer and theologian, trained as a lawyer, excellent orator; Converted to Christianity
Tertullian
Wrote and addressed The First Apology, to Roman emperor Antonius Pius; a Gentile from Samaria who became a Christian when he was around 30 years old;
we know more about him than other early Christians; he condemned Gnostics and was known for studying under philosophers.
St. Justin Martyr
St. Polycarp of Smyrna
one was a young married woman in North Africa; the other was a slave of hers; they were arrested while in the catechumen process;
both Saints were able to be baptized before being transferred to a prison in Carthage.
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Born in Smyrna in Asia Minor but studied in Rome; author of Against Heresies; In 177, he was sent to Rome to deliver a message and while he was gone the church in Lyons suffered from persecution; Bishop of Lyons, St. Pothinus, was martyred and he became the (second) bishop upon his return
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
St. Cyprian of Carthage
Bishop of Alexandria, best known for his defense against Arianism;
some of his writings included On the Incarnation of the Word and The Life of Anthony; Doctor and Father of the Church
St. Athanasius
Baptized as an adult but grew up in a Christian family in Syria; he was a teacher and may have been a deacon; he was an author of hymns and poems– specifically in reference to heresies; he was an ascetic who lived in Edessa and organized relief in the wake of a famine.
Ephrem
Archbishop of Constantinople; well-trained philosopher, orator and brought Hellenism into early Church; his preaching brought many to the Church and brought much to the theology of the Trinity; Doctor and Father of the Church
St. Gregory Nazianzus
Bishop of Milan, he opposed Arianism and attempts to revive paganism; best known writings include numerous sermons and letters as well as On the Duties of the Clergy and On the Sacraments; also known for influencing St. Augustine and leading to his conversion; Doctor and Father of the Church
St. Ambrose
Archbishop of Constantinople;
Preaching earned him title of “chrysostomos” meaning “Golden Mouthed”; Doctor and Father of the Church
St. John Chrysostom
Monk who preferred to live in isolation; greatest contribution was translation of and study of the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin for the people in the Western Roman Empire; this work formed a major part of what came to be known as the Vulgate, which is the Church’s official translation of the Bible; Doctor and Father of the Church
St. Jerome
